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What Parents Need to Know about Dysgraphia: The Learning Disability that Impairs Writing

While writing comes naturally to some kids, it’s actually a complex operation. The child must pick up their pencil or place their hands correctly on their keyboard. They must  engage fine motor skills to grip and control their writing tool, or move their fingers from key to key. They must use hand-eye coordination to form letters with appropriate spacing, sequence letters to form words, all-the-while translating thoughts into sentences, processing language, and remembering grammar and punctuation rules. On top of the physical act of writing, the child must also employ executive functioning skills including organizing details, identifying key concepts or topic sentences.

What’s more, writing takes persistence and patience. A child must take the step to begin writing, maintain the motivation and self-monitoring needed to keep writing, and motivate themselves to overcome obstacles that can make writing difficult. At the end of the project, the child must also recognize that their writing may need revisions or edits.

With so many brain operations working together, a disruption in any one of these tasks can impair a student’s ability to write. Sometimes, these disruptions are caused by a learning disorder known as dysgraphia. 

Does your student struggle with writing? If so, here are 7 things to know about dysgraphia:.

1. Signs & symptoms

Dysgraphia describes challenges with “transcription” such as handwriting, typing, and spelling, as well as the executive, working memory, and organizational skills associated with those operations. Children with dysgraphia struggle with any or all of the following:

  • Awkward pencil grip and difficulty controlling writing tools

  • Trouble forming letters and writing within lines

  • Spelling well on tests but not within sentences

  • Difficulty typing 

  • Struggling with similarly shaped letters like “p & q” or “b & d”

  • Poor spatial planning and irregular letter sizes

  • Slow writing speed and fatigue after writing 

  • Mixing printed and cursive handwriting

  • Poor sentence organization and grammar

  • Misuse of capitalization and punctuation

  • Omitting words or leaving them incomplete 

  • Writing the bare minimum, despite being able to verbally express elaborate ideas

  • Difficulty organizing thoughts and ideas coherently on the page

  • Struggling to conceptualize, outline, and plan what they are writing

  • Unable to separate ideas by paragraph

  • Poor paragraph flow and formatting

  • Difficulty retrieving the words they need when they need them

2. Causes & co-occurring disorders

Researchers are still learning about the causes of dysgraphia, but like all learning disabilities, dysgraphia often runs in families. Evidence suggests that dysgraphia may sometimes be tied to complications in prenatal development (for example, premature birth), and in some cases, dysgraphia results from a physical tremor or traumatic brain injury. While dysgraphia can occur on its own, it also commonly occurs alongside other conditions such as oral & written language disability (OWL), autism spectrum disorder, visual or auditory processing disorders, Tourette Syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and dyslexia. The first step in supporting a student with writing challenges is seeking a professional diagnosis. 

Variations Psychology offers diagnostic testing to identify dysgraphia and other conditions that impair learning.

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3. Education plans & programs

With written or typed assignments being required in nearly every subject, it’s critical that kids with dysgraphia receive appropriate support. While dysgraphia is not specifically covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, impairments in written expression are. If a specialist diagnoses your child with a written expression disorder, they may qualify for a 504 Plan or IEP  to gain accommodations in school. These accommodations can help level the playing field by reducing obstacles that dysgraphia presents. Accommodations may include: 

  • Assistive technology (AT) – AT can be as low-tech as a pencil grip or slant board to as high tech as specialized computers or dictation software

  • Alternatives to handwritten assignments (i.e. - video or tape-recorded answers)

  • Special paper with highlighted lines, raised lines, or wide ruling

4. Supportive therapies and tools

There are several therapies that have been shown to improve students’ writing skills and reduce symptoms of dysgraphia. Occupational therapy can improve motor skill deficits that are common in students with writing challenges. Speech and language therapy can help with a student’s grammar and sentence sequencing. An optometrist can identify if any visual processing disorders are contributing to their challenges and if necessary, provide vision therapy. Tools such as graphic organizers can help a student structure their thoughts and ideas before writing, and provide a visual aid for them to refer to if they get stuck. Self-monitoring rubrics can be used to help students prepare and proof-read their writing. Rubrics can be simplified or elaborate depending on the student’s grade & proficiency levels.

5. At-home interventions

Young children: 

Have them complete mazes to practice writing within lines

  • Strengthen their hand muscles by playing with clay

  • Create “connect-the-dots” in letter shapes for them to practice forming letters

  • Have them create letters with manipulatives such as slime or hair gel – feeling the resistance will reinforce each letter’s form

  • Provide wide-ruled paper with bold lines

  • Trace rule lines with glue – once it dries, your kid will have “speedbumps” that remind them to keep their letters within the lines

  • Decorate a popsicle stick and have your child use it as spacing tool to measure appropriate spacing between words

Older children & teens: 

  • Have them experiment with different pen grips and slant boards to find their most comfortable writing position 

  • Invest in a well-reputed typing software to help them improve their typing skills while playing fun games 

  • Encourage your teen to dictate and record their verbal thoughts, and then transcribe their recording into written word

  • Show them how to use reference tools such as a thesaurus or dictionary

6. Poor placement risks

Dysgraphia does not impact a child’s intelligence, and many kids with dysgraphia have no problem coming up with bright ideas or expressing themselves verbally; they just struggle with putting those ideas on paper. Unfortunately, kids with dysgraphia are often mistaken for being lazy or incapable and are placed in classes beneath their intellectual potential. This can cause them to be understimulated and develop negative feelings about school. It’s important that educators recognize the true gifts and abilities of students with dysgraphia so that they are placed in the least restrictive academic environment

Do you disagree with your school on the best services and placement for your child or teen?

Click here to learn how an IEE can secure your student’s best education options.

7. Professional support 

If your child or teen has been struggling with writing, an expert in educational psychology can help you pinpoint causes and find effective solutions. Our doctors provide diagnostic testing to assess for dysgraphia, identify other potential conditions that are impairing your student’s learning, and guide you through the next steps to unlocking your student’s potential.

So you know you need help, but aren’t sure how
to find the right help?  

Picking a specialist or type of therapy or intervention can be confusing, and “trial and error” with the wrong provider can cause many families to feel overwhelmed and give up on seeking help. 

Our Diagnosticians can provide psychological testing to remove the
guess-work and guide you on your best path toward mental wellness and academic success.

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More about Variations Psychology

Variations Psychology is a group practice specializing in diagnostic testing to identify psychological conditions.

Our comprehensive evaluations test for conditions that impact mental health and development such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, learning disorders, and developmental delays. 

In addition to diagnostic services, we offer Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) of K-12 students to assess needs for accommodations in school. IEEs provide an objective second opinion on existing IEP and 504 Plans.

For K-12 and post-secondary students, we offer evaluations to assess needs for accommodations on standardized tests, college entrance exams (e.g. - SAT, ACT, AP Exams), and graduate and professional licensing exams (e.g. - MCAT, LSAT, GRE, CBEST, NCLEX, GMAT, CA Cosmetology Exam,
CA Contractors State Licensing Exam, CA Bar Exam).

Schedule your consultation below to learn how our diagnostic services can support you and your family. 

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Variations Psychology is located in Newport Beach, CA and provides psychological testing to residents throughout Orange County and its surrounding areas including Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Irvine, Shady Canyon, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Coto de Caza, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Yorba Linda, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Pelican Hill, Crystal Cove, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Lake Forest, Huntington Beach, Sunset Beach, Seal Beach, and more.

References:

Dysgraphia. (n.d.) Learning Disabilities Association of America. Retrieved from https://ldaamerica.org/types-of-learning-disabilities/dysgraphia/

Dysgraphia Information Page (n.d.) The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Dysgraphia-Information-Page

Dysgraphia: Problems with Writing (n.d.) Synapse. Retrieved from http://www.autism-help.org/comorbid-dysgraphia-autism.htm

Dysgraphia: What You Need to Know (n.d.). Understood. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/dysgraphia/understanding-dysgraphia 

Eckerd, M. (n.d.) Dysgraphia: An Overview. Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities. Retrieved from https://www.smartkidswithld.org/first-steps/what-are-learning-disabilities/dysgraphia-an-overview/

Feifer, S.G. (n.d.) The Neuropsychology of Written Language Disorders: Developing Research Based Interventions.

Frye, D. (2021) How to Treat the Symptoms of Dysgraphia. ADDItude Magazine. Retrieved from Dysgraphia Treatment for Children & Adults, at School or Home (additudemag.com)

Hamman, J. (2018). Creating a Dysgraphia-Friendly Classroom. The George Lucas Educational Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/article/creating-dysgraphia-friendly-classroom?gclid=CjwKCAjwk93rBRBLEiwAcMapUWF6kIMeTgbbiPqQJ-PEi2rgmBgUEc4gwx38GmVskePHMY_Ga5y80hoCYVQQAvD_BwE

Kelly, Kate. (n.d.) 8 Tools for Kids with Dysgraphia. Understood. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/dysgraphia/8-tools-for-kids-with-dysgraphia#slide-1

Morin, A. (n.d.) 6 Uses of Multi-Sensory Techniques for Teaching Handwriting. Understood. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/partnering-with-childs-school/instructional-strategies/6-multisensory-techniques-for-teaching-handwriting

Shinn. M.M. (2018). 7 Strategies for Fostering a Growth Mindset in Your Child. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/7-strategies-for-fostering-a-growth-mindset-in-your-child

Shinn. M.M. (2018). ADHD or Just Kids Being Kids? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/adhd-or-just-kids-being-kids

Shinn. M.M. (2019). Could My Teen Have Autism? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/could-my-teen-have-autism 

Shinn. M.M. (2018). Does My Child Need Accommodations for the SAT/ACT? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/does-my-child-need-accommodations-for-the-sat-act

Shinn. M.M. (2018). I Can’t Spell Dyslexia – Do I Have It? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/i-cant-spell-dyslexia-do-i-have-it

Shinn. M.M. (2020). Understanding Education Plans: A Parent’s Guide to 504s and IEPs. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/understanding-education-plans-a-parents-guide-to-504s-and-ieps

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How to Cite This Blog Article:

Shinn. M.M. (2024). What Parents Need to Know About Dysgraphia: The Learning Disability that Impairs Writing. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from www.variationspsychology.com/blog/what-parents-need-to-know-about-dysgraphia-the-learning-disability-that-impairs-writing